Bright green tropical birds make Florida a showcase of resplendent feathers. From iconic parrots to hummingbirds glittering like emeralds, Florida’s verdant habitats harbor a stunning variety of avian color. Here are 5 dazzling green birds in Florida and where bird watchers can observe them in their glory.
Green Parakeet
Colorfully called a green conure in aviculture, the striking green parakeet is an invasive species that has taken up residence in south and central Florida. Its brilliance rivals any native bird.
Appearance and Behavior
Sporting a bright green back and head, emerald wings, a yellow-green underside and a rosy red patch on their throat and beak, green parakeets are hard to miss. They exhibit very social and vocal behavior and travel in large, noisy flocks together with monk parakeets. They frequent treetops and urban areas like parks, repeatedly uttering loud, screechy calls.
Where to Observe Them
Green parakeets thrive in central and south Florida towns and neighborhoods with tall trees like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton and Fort Myers. Look for their bright green colors and listen for their high-pitched chattering to stand out from native species. They roost communally in large groups before setting out each day to forage and explore.
Painted Bunting
With feathers in vivid hues of blue, green, yellow and red, male painted buntings are like flying jewels lighting up southern Florida’s thickets and forests. They migrate in spring and turn scrublands into rainbows.
Appearance and Behavior
Alternating brilliant patches of crimson, indigo, lime and bright yellow gives the male painted bunting a disorders look that dazzles observers when seen in good sunlight. More secretive that other gaudy birds, they tend to hop low through the foliage peering for seeds or insects. Their song is a melodious warble.
Where to Observe Them
In Florida, painted buntings nest in shrub thickets across the northern part of the state and all along Florida’s Atlantic Coast. The best place to see the strange beauty of the males is STA 5/L-28 Tropical Fringe Outstanding Natural Area in Palm Beach County which draws birders and photographers from around the country when the migrants pass through.
Florida Green Jay
Rarer that the great Florida green heron, the Florida green jay is a tropical species just entering the United States in the lower Florida Keys, a small population of this emerald Mexican songbird has taken up residence much to the delight of birders.
Appearance and Behavior
The bright yellow-green highlights on its wings, face and body really stand out. They have darker green back markings and blue feather tips. Fairly large among songbirds, Florida green jays travel in small family groups, bonding for life. They have a loud, rowdy voice sounding like musical gurgling mixed with rattling as they pass through the forest canopy.
Where to Observe Them
The Florida green jays has only recently been consistently spotted in the United States since 2016 in a tiny section of the Florida Keys. Bahia Honda State Park in Big Pine Key provides the most reliable location to find Florida green jays feeding in gumbo limbo and palm trees, often just a few dozen feet from observing visitors. Their brilliance just pops against the darker foliage.
Green Heron
Despite its name suggesting a showy plumage, the green heron is more subdued gray-green, but its brilliant colors appear during courtship displays. Abundant waterbirds, they thrive in wetlands statewide.
Appearance and Behavior
Adults have a grayish-green back with a rich chestnut body and greenish head. In breeding plumage, green herons sport a bold black cap and dramatic greenish mouth lining used for courtship. The striking colors disappear shortly after mating. Agile and solitary, they colonial nest sites near foraging ground where they stalk and strike prey with uncanny speed.
Where to Observe Them
Green herons frequent swampy, slow-moving bodies of water from the panhandle through central Florida and down into the Everglades ecosystem year round. Prime locations include Shark Valley (Everglades National Park), Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, and along Myakka River State Park. Early morning in spring offers the best chance to see them in vibrant courting attire.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Florida’s most common and only breeding hummingbird displays dazzling green feathers in the right light. The ruby-throated hummingbird migrates through the state in spring and fall in the millions, stopping to refuel on nectar.
Appearance and Behavior
Adult males sport an iridescent ruby-red throat patch (from which they get their name) used to attract females. Their crown and back shimmers bright emerald green when sunlight hits it. Extremely territorial, males perform elaborate display dives and chase other males from feeders during spring migration. They audibly buzz by observers hovering at flowers.
Where to Observe Them
While ruby-throats appear throughout Florida as migrants pass through, excellent locations to observe their glowing green colors include Zoo Miami, Flamingo Gardens in Davie, Tampa’s Lettuce Lake Park, Wakodahatchee Wetlands (Delray Beach), Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge near Titusville, and Wekiwa Springs State Park near Orlando.<iframe width=”100%” height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/SImgmxCgmvM” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” allowfullscreen></iframe>
Ruby-throated hummingbird feeding, showing green iridescence (Video Source: Youtube)
Conclusion
Few states can compete with Florida’s variety of brilliant emerald and green tropical birds. From parrots to hummingbirds, bird lovers seeking to observe nature’s jewelry will discover a family of feathered gems adorning parks, refuges and neighborhoods if they know where to look. The radiance of these birds amid Florida’s abundant greenery and waterways create living rainbows for passing migrants and year-round residents alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the greenest bird in Florida?
The green parakeet is likely the truest and brightest green overall among Florida birds. However, male ruby-throated hummingbirds display the most vivid emerald green iridescence in the right light.
What exotic parrots live in Florida?
Many parrot species call southern Florida home, including the extremely vocal monks parakeet with gray bodies, bright green wings and blue wingtips, and the all-over vibrant green parakeets note for high speed flock flight.
Where do painted buntings nest in Florida?
In Florida, painted buntings nest throughout the northern part of the state and all along the Atlantic Coast. Excellent sighting hotspots include St. John’s County parks near St. Augustine, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge near Titusville, and STA 5/L-28 Tropical Fringe Outstanding Natural Area in Palm Beach County.
What is special about the Florida green jay?
The brilliant yellow-green and blue Florida green jay is a tropical songbird just establishing a range in the United States with a small foothold in the lower Florida Keys, giving bird enthusiasts a rare chance to see this gorgeous Mexican species on the American mainland.
How can I attract green birds?
To attract green birds, provide a habitat with a source of water, nesting sites, cover from predators, and types of food they seek. For parakeets provide wild bird seed, berries and fruit. Hummingbirds need a nectar feeder. Insect-loving species like the painted bunting favor yards with native flowers and flowering shrubs teeming with bugs.
